More than a billion children live in cities – and yet most of these cities have not been designed to meet the needs of babies, toddlers, and their caregivers, and mobility systems have not been planned with their travel characteristics in mind. This negatively affects the children’s physical, mental, and cognitive development, as well as increases stress on caregivers. Investing in babies and toddlers leads to lifelong benefits for them, including educational achievement, positive health outcomes, and higher earnings potential.
Cities could function better for babies, toddlers, and caregivers by increasing access to the specific needs and destinations they require for daily living through integrating land use and transportation, while improving their local environment. This report examines how to achieve this.